8 Gardening Influencers in Arizona You Should Be Following Now
Through reels, tutorials, blog posts and photos, Valley content creators are demystifying the process of growing food and flowers.
In communities where gardening knowledge was lost through generations or never passed down, these local digital mentors revive and re-root our connection to the land. Their content serves as a modern-day extension of oral tradition—sharing wisdom not in words across backyard fences, but through screens and hashtags. Here are eight gardening influencers who are cultivating not only plants but community, proving that with a little guidance and curiosity, anyone can grow something meaningful.
1. Angela Judd (@growing.in.the.garden)
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A master gardener, prolific educator and author of “How to Grow Your Own Food” ($18, simonandschuster.com), Judd shares practical advice for desert gardening—from seasonal planting guides to DIY trellises—on her YouTube and Instagram channels and via and her monthly “Growing in the Garden” classes.
2. Jacq Davis (@epicyardfarm)
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With a focus on permaculture—sustainable agriculture that mimics natural ecosystems—and food forests—layered gardens that produce fruits, herbs and vegetables year-round—Davis’ Epic Yard Farm 2.0 in Tempe transforms suburban yards into edible oases. Her content blends practical how-tos with creative recipes and deep botanical insight.
3. Samantha Fuszara (@gardeninphoenix)
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Samantha offers easy-to-follow tips for beginners and busy gardeners alike, with a special focus on growing food in small urban spaces.
4. Kara Adams (@sowarizona)
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Through vibrant content and local workshops, Adams empowers others to garden sustainably in Arizona’s unique climate. She provides tips on everything from no-dig and organic gardening, pollinator-friendly landscapes and improving soil health to sowing native seeds and xeriscaping.
5. Melissa Kruse-Peeples (@the_desert_smells_like_veggies)
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A seed preservationist, educator and wild-food forager, Kruse-Peeples blends storytelling with science, celebrating the cultural and ecological significance of desert crops. The author of “Saving Seeds in the Southwest” ($15, nativeseeds.org) presides over a variety of gardening classes and seed swaps.
6. Cody Wilson (@gardenspaces_)
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Wilson shares design-driven content that blends form and function—making garden beds, irrigation systems and layouts both beautiful and efficient.
7. Sophea McGuirl (@one.arizona.garden)
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“I’m not a master gardener,” says McGuirl, who began gardening in 2008 as a stress reliever. “I’m just a teacher with a gardening addiction.” Through her Instagram and YouTube channels, she documents her journey of trial, error and triumph in the garden, encouraging others to start growing—no matter their experience level.
8. Keely Alvarez (@SunnyCityGarden)
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With her passion for gardening, baking and raising chickens, Alvarez offers a daily glimpse into her life as a homesteader with uplifting, beginner-friendly content on container gardening, pollinator plants and creating joy-filled spaces in the city.
** The author of this article, Sarah Wolfe, is the chief executive officer of Garden Partner, a locally owned app providing a convenient and user-friendly platform and database for gardening beginners. The above gardening influencers were recently recognized by Garden Partner at their first-ever Creators’ Luncheon, a celebration of the individuals who are quietly changing the way our communities connect to the soil. Learn more at gardenpartner.net.
